Bio


Dr. Aroosa Zamarud is a medical doctor who completed her undergraduate education at Bannu Medical College, Khyber Medical University, Pakistan. Following her graduation and a one-year medical internship, she served as a Medical Officer at Zubaida Khaliq Memorial Hospital, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, a charitable institution. During her tenure, she organized medical camps in remote villages in Northern Pakistan, providing healthcare services to underprivileged populations.

In March 2022, Dr. Zamarud joined the Stanford Neurosurgery department as a Visiting Instructor. Her research primarily focused on Clinical Neurooncology, with a special emphasis on the use of Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery as a treatment modality for various benign and malignant brain pathologies, including Vestibular Schwannoma, Sarcoma, Spinal metastases, Meningioma, Pineal and Pituitary metastases, and Arteriovenous malformations.

Currently, Dr. Zamarud is serving as a postdoctoral fellow in neurointerventional Radiology. Her ongoing research centers on investigating the role of venous outflow in patients with acute ischemic stroke, among other stroke-related studies.

Stanford Advisors


All Publications


  • Cyberknife Radiosurgery for Synovial Sarcoma Metastasizing to the Spine: Illustrative Case Reports. Cureus Zamarud, A., Park, D. J., Haider, G., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023; 15 (4): e37087

    Abstract

    Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare and aggressive type of soft tissue sarcoma that commonly affects young adults. Metastasis in the spine is a rare complication, and the management of these lesions is challenging. Radiosurgery is an increasingly popular treatment option for spinal metastasis due to its ability to deliver high doses of radiation to the target volume with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. In this paper, we present two cases of SS with spinal metastasis that were treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery (CKRS). The first case was a 52-year-old female with a history of multiple thoracotomies and lobectomies for lung metastases, who was diagnosed with T6-T8 and T4 spinal metastasis. The second case was a 53-year-old female with Down syndrome, who was diagnosed with T12-L1 spinal metastasis. Both patients experienced an improvement in their symptoms following CKRS treatment and showed stable or decreasing lesion sizes on follow-up imaging. The progression-free survival (PFS) in the first case was 37 months and overall survival (OS) was 79 months. In the second case, the PFS was 12 months and OS was 18 months. These cases highlight the potential benefits of CKRS as a treatment option for SS with spinal metastasis and support its use in the management of this challenging condition.

    View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.37087

    View details for PubMedID 37168194

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10166278

  • Treatment Outcomes of Leiomyosarcoma Metastasis Affecting the Brachial Plexus: A Comparative Case Report Using Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT). Cureus Zamarud, A., Marianayagam, N., Sekar, V., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023; 15 (3): e36715

    Abstract

    Sarcomas are a rare type of cancer that can develop in various parts of the body, including the brachial plexus. Leiomyosarcomas (LMs) are a subtype of sarcoma that develops in smooth muscle tissue and can metastasize to different parts of the body. In this case report, we present two patients with LM metastasized to the brachial plexus, one treated with CyberKnife (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA) stereotactic radiosurgery (CK SRS) and the other with surgical resection. The aim of this case report is to present the treatment outcomes and adverse effects of CK SRS and surgical resection in brachial plexus LM metastasis. Patient 1 was a 39-year-old female who received CK SRS, and at three months of follow-up, the lesion was smaller, and she reported symptomatic improvement. At 15 months, the lesion was stable in size, and there was no evidence of local invasion of the adjacent vascular structures or nerves. Patient 2 was a 52-year-old male who underwent surgical resection, and at one-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with no recurrence of his symptoms. The size of the residual axillary tumor was stable at three months and showed a slight interval decrease in size at five months of follow-up. He was followed for over 12 months, with no recurrence of his symptoms. Both treatments appear to have been effective in controlling LM growth and relieving symptoms. CK SRS provides a non-invasive option. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of these treatments for brachial plexus sarcoma. This case report highlights the importance of considering different treatment options for brachial plexus sarcoma and the need for further studies to understand the best approach for these rare cases.

    View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.36715

    View details for PubMedID 37113342

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10129366

  • 648 Machine Learning Predicts Cavernous Sinus Invasion of Pituitary Adenomas Neurosurgery Nernekli, K., Asmaro, K. P., Zamarud, A., et al 2023; 69 (69): 24-25
  • Cyberknife Radiosurgery for Synovial Sarcoma Metastasizing to the Spine Cureus Zamarud, A., Park, D. J., Haider, G., Chang, S. D., Meola, A. 2023; 15 (4)

    View details for DOI 10.7759/cureus.37087